Icebreaker 'Urho' Machinery Renovation by Protacon

Finland's Protacon to renovate the automation and electric systems of the legendary Finnish icebreaker 'Urho'

Compared to its predecessors, icebreaker Urho was at the time of its construction in 1975 an exponent of highly advanced technology and it, actually, still is part of the elite of the icebreakers in the Baltic Sea.

The modernization work the icebreaker Urho will undergo is the largest ever done to the ship. It will take about four years work and will start immediately.

The renovation work will concentrate in the renewal of the automation and electric systems. This includes among other things a new machinery alarm system, the protection, excitation systems, and power management of the auxiliary engines, DC drives of the propulsion, the modernization of the fire alarm system, the remote measuring system of the tanks and draft. Also the maintenance of the motors and generators was part of the package.

"The renovation had to be done, as it is not possible to get spare parts for the old systems anymore; this is a risk to the security of the ship. Urho will gain a significantly longer lifespan with its modernization," says Mr. Kai Valtari, business director of Arctia Icebreaking Ltd, owner of Urho.